FACT: FISSURE SEALANTS GREATLY REDUCE A CHILD’S RISK OF DENTAL DECAY!

All back teeth have pits and grooves on their biting surfaces. These are known as fissures and they provide a great hiding place for germs, plaque and particles of food. Fissures are very difficult to clean effectively and therefore, it is these vulnerable, biting surfaces of the teeth which most often develop decay.

The first adult molars sneak up behind the last baby molar when your child is around 5 or 6 years of age. Often parents will not realise there is a brand new adult tooth in each corner of their child’s mouth until they are well established and sadly, in many cases I encounter, already starting to decay. Since these teeth are supposed to stay with your child for his or her entire lifetime, it is a good idea to protect them well against decay from an early stage. Once a tooth is decayed, that tooth is compromised for life.

A technique known as fissure sealing was developed in the 1960s. This involves applying a flowable, adhesive and durable material to the pits and fissures of the teeth. The materials used have since evolved and many well-conducted studies have provided strong evidence that fissure sealants are a very effective method of protecting the teeth against decay in the pits and fissures. It has also emerged that very early signs of decay may be arrested and prevented from developing further by carefully placing a fissure sealant and keeping the tooth under regular review.

Parents are often concerned that their child will develop a fear of the dentist. Of course, it is always one of the paediatric dentist’s main aims to avoid this from happening, or where fear and anxiety already exist, to help reduce or eliminate the problem. In most cases, having a fissure sealant placed is an easy and achievable task for a child. So along with helping to protect the teeth against decay, it very often allows the child to experience a pleasant introduction to dentistry and boost their confidence in the dental chair. A win-win situation!

Sometimes parents of children will think that having a fissure sealant is a one-off event. But fissure sealants can wear down and chip, as these surfaces of the teeth are subjected to large stresses on a daily basis during eating and function. Once the fissure sealants are placed, it is necessary to keep them under regular review in order to ensure they maintain their integrity, adding to them or replacing them as indicated.

There are no magic cures to dental decay just yet. Fissure sealants are an excellent aid to helping prevent decay. They must, however, be maintained regularly and they work best in conjunction with other methods of prevention including:
1. Regular use of a fluoride toothpaste (containing at least 1,000ppm Fluoride from age 2 years)
2. A parent should brush a child’s teeth for them until they are at least 8 or 9 years of age
3. Avoid regular snacking (remember that drinks other than water or milk are considered snacks)
4. Limit the intake of sugary food and drink
5. Regular visits with the dentist from the age of 1 year to prevent decay or to diagnose existing decay at an early stage (Yes, unfortunately, we do see decay in babies!!)

By Aifric Ni Chaollai

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